OneZone Blog

by Mo Merhoff, OneZone President​Harvard economist and author Ed Glaeser’s book Triumph of the City makes the case that not only are cities mankind’s greatest invention, but also our best hope for the future. If we look around our region – at the daily announcements of business growth and investment; at the ongoing creation of walkable, interact-able places; at the expansion of walkways and bikeways and casual concerts – we see plenty of evidence for Glaeser’s premise.

​There’s a lot more to this idea. Along with Indianapolis, Columbus and Hamilton County CEOs for Cities members, I recently attended a conference in Greenville, SC packed with provocative discussion about cities and their significant role in creating our future.

James Fallows, a national correspondent for The Atlantic, spoke to us about his and his wife Deb’s three-year experience flying their single-engine aircraft throughout the country. “Many people,” said Fallows, “are discouraged about the country. But the closer (my emphasis) they are to the action at home, the better they like what they see.” You can read Jim Fallows’ entire article here.

It appears that while we may be polarized on myriad national issues, when we look around our own communities throughout the country, we’re pretty optimistic, especially if we’re involved. Especially if we’re engaged, whether we volunteer for a Fourth of July celebration, bicycle to our favorite restaurant, serve on a school committee, or spread our blanket to share a summer concert with neighbors we know and those we don’t.

This concept of city power is the topic of our all-county chamber luncheon July 12th. Our presenter, Lee Fisher, is the current President and CEO of CEOs for Cities. Appropriately, Lee’s motto is “Want to change the world? Start with your city.” Hope you can join us.